Capitol Report

The Kansas Senate last week failed to muster the required two-thirds majority and defeated Senate Concurrent Resolution 1606, a proposal to amend the Kansas Constitution relating to the selection of justices of the Supreme Court.

The proposed amendment would have required the confirmation of state Supreme Court justices by the Senate. Currently, the governor appoints justices without the consent of the Senate.

Passage of the resolution by the two-thirds majority would have sent the measure to the House. Passage there by a two-thirds majority would have put the question on the Aug. 2 statewide ballot.

The Senate vote was 22-17 in favor of the amendment, five short of the required two-thirds majority, with one member voting present.